Christy Ring and Glen Rovers
The Irish Examiner published a 24-page supplement to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the birth of the greatest hurler of all time, Christy Ring. I was asked to contribute this piece on Christy Ring and Glen Rovers. Christy Ring was born in Cloyne, County Cork in 1920. He played with his home club, Cloyne until […]
JACK LYNCH RAISED SPORTING FLAGS AND HORIZONS OF MANY
In a boy’s world of the 1920s, be it Shandon Street or anywhere in the world, money was not the main currency; athletic ability was. The boy who could run the fastest, climb the highest or puck the sliotar furthest, was king.
Jack Lynch could do all of these. His prowess was partly due to his natural athletic ability, partly due to the regular meals – which a regular wage provides, partly due to his home environment and partly due to the education provided by the nuns of St Vincents and the Christian Brothers of the North Monastery.
St Patricks Boys National School, Brian Dillons Hurling and Football Club and their entwined history
On the 29th of November 1937, almost 75 years ago, 261 boys came to school at the old St Patricks Boys National School at St Lukes Cross, Cork. When everyone was settled down and accounted for, the boys and their teachers marched up the Ballyhooly Road to the new school that had been built in […]
St Nicks v Na Piarsaigh Cork County Senior Football Championship Relegation Playoff. Part 1 – The Build Up
In or around 7pm next Saturday, barring a draw in Páirc Uí Rinn, the north side of Cork city will find that it has lost a senior football club. This is because St Nicholas and Na Piarsaigh will face each other in the relegation play-off of the Cork Senior County football championship. I have been […]
Tipperary made it difficult for the referee and even more difficult for themselves
I learned a long time ago that as a coach or a selector, you must have a Plan B, and even a Plan C, to help cope with the unexpected things that happen during the course of a game. In 1989, when I was coaching Glen Rovers against Midleton in an under-21 county hurling semi-final, […]
Cork 0 – 17 Tipperary 0 – 18. A few thoughts on last nights Munster Under-21 Hurling Championship game between Cork and Tipperary.
For most of the game Cork looked as if they could hold Tipperary at arms length. The longer the game went on however, the stronger Tipperary became. I think that the individual hurling skill of the Tipperary players was a major contributor to this.
Will the crowds ever come back to the Cork County Hurling Championships
Last Sunday’s attendance was paltry. A little more than 2,500 I would suggest. This made for a surreal atmosphere. There was never going to be the sight of a Glen and a Barrs supporter rolling on the ground like they used to during the Eucharistic Cup games at the Mardyke. But then the crowd last Sunday did not spend the interregnum between the end of the Eucharistic Procession and the beginning of the game at the Mardyke in various hostelries between the Grand Parade and the Western Road.
Minor upsets don’t always lead to major misfortunes
There is a looming crisis for the GAA in all urban areas, and Cork city is no exception this. The lack of city based players is most likely accounted for by the falling standards urban GAA competition, and the failures of urban schools in the Harty Cup schools competition, rather than any perceived bias on behalf of the Cork selectors.
The tragic death of Willie John O’Connell
On Monday next, April 2nd, the under-14 hurling teams of the St Finbarrs and Blackrock will play at St Finbarrs. This will be the inaugural game of what will become an annual challenge between the clubs. A special trophy has been commissioned by St Finbarrs for the game. It is to be called the Willie […]
The Downside of the Hurling Helmet
You have two options when it comes to getting back to Cork from Limerick after a Heineken Cup tie. You can make a mad dash for the car and hope to beat the traffic, or you can take your time, have a sandwich and drink, let the traffic clear and then mosey on home. Option […]